Tie plate arrangement for railroads



Miarch 15, 1938. T. w. STEDMAN TIE PLATE ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILROADS original Filed Aug. 18, 1934 T 4 E I Z72 51 5' 6 I Y @NVENTOR T WM Wm ATI'TORNEY' Patented Mar. lg

mladdd d fl ll 2,110,89d TIE PLATE ARRANGEMENT lFfiDllt RAHLROADS Theodore W. Stedman, New York, N. Y., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Resilient Products Corporation, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application August 18, 1934, Serial No. rid-err Renewed .lune 10, 193"! 6 Claims.

My invention relates to tie plate arrangements I adapted for railroad use.

My invention has particular reference to a tie plate formed from resilient and-metallic members associated in face-to-face relation and disposed between the railroad rail and its supporting cross ments, features and improvements of the character hereinafter" described and claimed.

In some respects, the tie plate arrangements of this application are an improvement on the invention disclosed in my pending application Serial Number 690,084, filed September 19, 1933.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of some of the forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawe ing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie plate= arrangement as constructed in accordance with my invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of asection of track;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical'sectional viewshowing my novel tie plate associated with .a railroad rail and its supporting cross tie;

Fig. 4 is a view taken longitudinally of the railroad rail and showing my novel tie plate in vertical a railroad section.

Fig.- 5 isa fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing a part of my novel tie plate arrangement;

and

Fig. 6 is -a perspective view of a tie plate arrangement of .a modified form.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2, T represents the wooden cross ties and R the parallel steel rails of a railroad track. The rails R do not contact directly with the ties T since, in accordance with my invention, tie plates -P of novel construction are disposed between the base of each rail R and the upper surfaces of the respective ties T.

As indicated on the drawing,the tie plate P of one form of my invention is formed from a harness jacket or metallic member a and a resilient member or shoe b associated together in face-toface relation and disposed in operative position with the resilient member b resting upon the cross tie T and serving as a support. forthe metallic member a and the rail R.

illustrated, the metallic member or harness I jacket a is of generally rectangular plate-like configuration. It is provided with spaced'upstanding flanges or shoulders al disposed in parallel relation and having a width between their inner surfaces slightly greater than the width of the base of the rail R; Extending downwardly through these fianges at are the vertical passages a2 through which are'adapted to extend the respective fastening members or track spikes S having heads which overlie the base of the rail at its upper surface. outwardly of each of the flanges ,al, the metallic membero may beformed with the vertical passages a3 through which are adapt- .ed to extend the respective fastening members or screw spikes Sl which extend downwardly into the cross tie.

As illustrated on the drawing, the aforesaid metallic member a, between the flanges al, is

provided with an opening or passage at of square, rectangular or other suitable configuration. This opening at should be of substantial area and, as shown, it is'desirable for t e dimension thereof laterally of the railroad tra k to correspond approximately with the distance between the inner surfaces of the flanges al. Preferably, the dimension of said opening a l longitudinally of the railroad track should correspond substantially with the aforesaid lateral dimension and, under such conditions, the metallic member a, between the flanges al comprises only the ribs orwebs-a5 which extend transversely with respect to the railroad track. i The aforesaid resilient member or shoe b comprises a sole plate or base section bl having a lower flat surface adapted to rest upon the upper flat surface of its supporting cross tie T. Said resilient member b further comprises an upstanding, centrally disposed cushion section b4 having an upper flat surface, slightly canted if desired, uponlwhich restts the lower fiat surface of the rail R. As illus rated, this upstanding resilient section b4 extends upwardly into the aforesaid opening M of the metallic member a and, as clearly shown on the drawing, the upper surface of said-resilient section b4 is disposed a substantial distance above the upper surfaces of the ribs a5 of the metallic member a.

*Preferably, 'in accordance with the invention, the upstanding section M of the resilient member b corresponds in configuration withthat of the opening a l of the metallic member a inthe sense that the dimensions of said upstanding sec 'tion-bfi shouldbe at least slightly less than those the parts.

As the parts are positioned in Fig. 3, it clearly appears that the base section bl of the resilient spective passages 03 of the member a.

In accordance with the disclosure of my aforesaid pending'application, it is desirable that the lateral dimensions of the passages b2 and 173 be smaller than the lateral sectional area of the spikes S and SI. which extend therethroiigh, respectively.

Further, in accordance with the general disclosure of my aforesaid pending application, it is desirable that sheet-like reinforcing means 0 be disposed in the base section bl of the resilient member 1;, Fig. -5. Such reinforcing means 0 may be of any suitable character consonantwith operating requirements. At present, however, said reinforcing means 0, preferably, is of fabric or cord material which is suitably embedded in the base section b of said member b.

Preferably in. accordance with the invention, the aforesaid metallic member a is formed from a rolled'section of steel while the resilient member b is formed from suitable resilient material, such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, or its equivalent, a pad of substantially non-absorbent fibrous or fabric material enveloped by some agent such as rubber, latex or the like, etc. Accordingly, as the parts are shown on the drawing, it clearly appears that the tie plate arrangement of my invention presents rubber or rubber-like surfaces which contact with the cross tie and rail, respectively. At the same time, said tie plate arrangement of my invention, because comprising the metallic member a, embodies the advantageous features existing with respect to the metallic tie platesxof the prior art.

It clearly appears, therefore, that, with the tieplate arrangement of my invention as herein-. before described, rubber surfacesor equivalent are presented at all points between the traiiic load andthe cross ties which ultimately support such load. In asense, the rubber material may be said to-be largely massed directly beneath the rail, this being desirable because the downward pressure of the traffic load is concentrated in this area. At the same. time, there is the desirable distribution of a thinner layer of rubber beneath the outer surfaces of the metallic'meniber a to thereby preventdirect contact of the metallic member a with the cross tie, with the attendant advantages, and to cushion the impact eflfect transmitted to this area.

, The tie plate arrangement of my invention presents the highly desirable characteristic of providingreinforcing means which, as regards the rubber material, substantially increases the compressional resistance and the tensile strength resistant to spreading when subjected to the weight of traiiic. To this end, the upstandingsection 174 of the resilient member 12 is rather closely confined by the surfaces of the metallic member a defining the opening at. Further, the use of the reinforcing means 0 is highly advantageous as regards thecharacteristic noted above.-

As stated above, it is desirable that the passages b2 and D3 of the resilient member b be smaller in a lateral-sense than the transverse dimensions of the respective spikes S and SI. is advantageous, particularly, in connection with wooden cross ties T because of largely sealing the spike holes and preventing the entrance of moisture thereinto. Because of so doing, decay is retarded to thereby lengthen the life of cross ties. It shall be understood, however, that my invention is not to be limited in the respects last noted nor is the invention to be limited to the use of wooden cross ties. This is necessarily true inasmuch as aresilient tie plate arrangethe ment of the character described herein is particularly advantageous in connection -with railway installations involving the use of concrete. or steel cross ties because of introducing an element of resiliency which is otherwise lacking therein.

Y In Fig. 6, I have illustrated a modified form of ,the invention. As shown, there is provided a metallic member alll which is of the same general character as the above described metallic member a with the exception that the opening or passage a4 is omitted. In lieu thereof, the metallic member aIB, during the rolling operation, is provided with a depression'all which maybe bounded by the flanges al and by the upper surfaces of the ribs or webs a5. In accordance'with the invention, this depression of I more or less snugly receives" a pad bll of suitable flexible material As will readily beunderstood, the base of the raiiis adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the aforesaid pad bll to thereby cushion the shock of trafllc. metallic member all! may rest directly upon the cross-tie, or, between said metallic member and cross tie, there may be interposed a pad corresponding with the resilient member 17 but with the section b4 omitted.

- In view of all the foregoing, it becomes obvious that my novel tie plate arrangements are par ticularly advantageous from a practical viewpoint. In a very important sense, the tie plates of my invention cushion the shock of traffic. They thereby serveto'lengthen the. life of the roadbed and the rolling stock. 'The expense item ric, then, contacts with the cross tie and protectsthe rubber material from the effects of creosote or the like. g

In the appended claims, the references to "cross ties shall be understood as generically describing and including any wooden, meta'Lconcrete or other supporting structure for the. railroad rails.

- While my invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understandingthe invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the-spirit and scope. of theinvention and it is intended thereforein the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications;

What is claimed'as new and desired to se-.

curedby Letters Patent is:

1. In a tie plate arrangement, a shoe of rubberlike material, said shoe comprisinga sole plate adapted to be supported on the cross tie of a railroad track, and-a cushion section of rubber-like material formed integrally with said sole plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said'cushion section being smaller in horizontal cross section than. said sole plate and being adapted to support a railroad rail, said sole plate comprising a section extending "outwardly beyond each vertical surface of .said cushion section wherebythe latter is disposed entirely within the border of said sole plate, said outwardly extending sections being adapted to cooperate with a harness jacket for supporting the latter on the cross tie.

2. In a tie plate arrangement, a shoe of rubber-like material, said. shoe comprising a sole plate adapted to be supported on a cross tie of a railroad track, a cushion section of rubber-like material formed integrally'with said sole plate and extending upwardly therefrom, said cushion section being smaller in horizontal cross section than said sole plate and being adapted to support a railroad rail, and sheet-like reinforcing means disposed in the plane of said shoe, said sole plate comprising a section extending outwardly beyond each vertical surface of said cushion section whereby the latter'is -disposed entirely within the'border of said sole plate, said outwardly extending sections being adapted to cooperate with a harness jacket for supporting the latter on the cross tie, the respective sections of said'sole plate beyond opposite vertical surfaces of said cushion section being provided with passages adapted to receive fastening means.

3. In a tie plate-arrangement, a shoe comprising a sole plate adaptedto be supported by the cross tie of a railroad track, a harness jacket supported by said sole plate, said harness jacket comprising spaced sections adapted for attachment to said cross tie, said spaced harness jacket sections being connected together by spaced ribs disposed in substantially parallel relation, said spaced harness jacket sections, and said ribs defining a passage extending vertically through said harness jacket, and a cushion section extending from said sole plate upwardly through the pas sage of said harness jacket and terminating above the upper surfaces of said ribs, the railroad rail being adapted to be supported by the upper surface of said, cushion section, said sole plate protecting the cross tie against abrasion.through-' out the area thereof. which is in engagement with said cross-tie.

4." In a tie plate arrangement, a shoe of rubher-like material, said shoe comprising "a sole plate adapted to be supported by the cross tie of a railroad track, a harness said sole plate, said harness jacket having a pasjacket supported by sage extending vertically therethrough, and a alined openings through which are adapted to extend the respective fastening members which se-" cure the tie plate arrangement tov the cross tie, said fastening members. causing the sole plate and the harness jacket to remain in fixed position with respect to each other whereby said cushion section is properly positioned within the passage of said harness jacket.

5. In a tie plate arrangement, 'a shoe of rubher-like material, saidshoe comprising a sole plate adapted to be supported on the cross tie of a railroad track, a harness jacket resting on said sole plate and supported thereby free from contact, with said cross tie, said harness jacket having a passage extending vertically therethrough, and a cushion section of rubber-like material formed integrally with said sole plate and extending therefrom upwardly throughsaid passage, said cushion section being adapted to support a railroad rail andbeing higher than those-surfaces of the harness jacket directly beneath said rail, the horizontal area of said cushion section, when free from the weight of trafllc, being less than the horizontal area of said pas- I sage.

cushion section, said outwardly extending sections beingadapted' to cooperate with a harness Jacket for supporting the latter on the cross tie. 

